Budapest to Bucharest

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From the beautiful Baroque churches of Budapest to the haunted castles of Transylvania, this ten-day journey across Hungary and Romania provides a fascinating insight into an intriguing region. Learn about the failed Turkish invasion of Eger and take a wine cellar tour in the Valley of the Beautiful Women. Become acquainted with traditional Romanian culture and customs in Maramures. Tour the medieval churches of Brasov, dine with a local family on an overnight homestay in Viscri and visit Bucharest's 12-storey Palace of Parliament. This jam-packed journey makes for a perfect introduction to two Eastern European treasures.

Why you'll love this trip

Sample the famous Hungarian 'bulls blood' in Eger, the wine that supposedly gave the Hungarian army supernatural strength during their battle against the Ottoman Empire

Experience peasant life on a full-day tour through the countryside of Maramures, Romania's most traditional and colourful region. Don't be surprised if you see horse-drawn carts along the road

Learn spooky stories while travelling through beautiful Transylvania, famous for its medieval fortified churches and as the birthplace of the inspiration for the world's most famous vampire, Dracula

A home-stay with a local family in the Saxon/Roma town of Viscri will expose you to Romanian hospitality and some finger-licking home-cooked grub

Delve into the communist past and the thriving, artistic present-day vibe of Bucharest, a city often underrated by travellers

Is this trip right for you?

Summer temperatures in Hungary and Romania can reach up to 40°C, which can be uncomfortable for those not used to the heat. Please consider the time of year you wish to travel and your suitability to that season. If travelling in summer, drink lots of water and remember to protect yourself from the sun. Bring layers to combat the heat, as well as sun block, shades and a hat.

Single travellers will be sharing accommodation with another traveller of the same sex. If you'd prefer a single room, a supplement is available at an additional charge. Please ask your travel consultant for more details. Hotels in Europe often don't have double beds, but rather two single beds that can be pushed together/apart. Please also note that some accommodation on this trip offer shared bathrooms rather than en-suite facilities.

Gallery

Itinerary

Szia! Welcome to Hungary. Since the collapse of communism, Budapest has experienced something of a renaissance. The grand architecture and boulevards evoke a time gone by, while glamorous stores and restaurants make this one of the truly great cities of Europe. After the welcome meeting, you might like to head out to explore the city by night. Perhaps visit the Jewish Quarter for dinner and explore the many options for a nightcap.

Accommodation

Hotel (1 night)

Meals Included

There are no meals included on this day.

Special Information

Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6pm today. Please look for a note in the hotel lobby or ask reception where it will take place. If you can't arrange a flight that will arrive in time, you may wish to arrive a day early so you're able to attend. We'll be happy to book additional accommodation for you (subject to availability). If you're going to be late, please inform the hotel reception. We'll be collecting your insurance details and next of kin information at this meeting, so please ensure you have all these details to provide to your leader.

Today enjoy a free day to explore Budapest. Hiring a bike is a great way to move between the sights. Perhaps head to Statue Park to see the communist monuments that were removed from the city after the fall of the Iron Curtain. One unmissable activity is a soak in Budapest's hot thermal baths. There are several around the city, ranging from elegant to simple outdoor types. The pools vary in temperature, and some even feature whirlpools or seats where you can play chess while you turn into a prune. You can wander the pedestrianised streets of the old district of Buda with the castle on the hill and the Matthias Church, then perhaps take a cruise along the Danube, discovering the history that unfolded along the riverbanks. Tonight perhaps discover some of the city’s ‘ruin bars’, cool places to grab a drink that are usually located in abandoned buildings in downtown Pest and are filled with thrift-shop décor and mismatched art.

Accommodation

Hotel (1 night)

Optional Activities

House of Terror - HUF3000

Thermal Bath - Starting from - HUF4500

Pub Crawl - Starting from - HUF5000

Hungarian State Opera House Tour - HUF3000

Urban Adventures - Buda Castle Explorer - EUR52

Hungarian National Museum - HUF1600

Urban Adventures - Bites & Sights - EUR74

Bike Ride - HUF6000

Parliament Tour - HUF5800

Transport and Entry to Statue Park - HUF5000

Great Synagogue - HUF4850

Meals Included

Breakfast

Special Information

You might like to take part in one of our Urban Adventure day tours, such as the Budapest Bites & Sites tour. Check them out at urbanadventures.com.

Take a two-hour train east to Eger today. This beautifully preserved Baroque town is surrounded by hills and is home to some of the most renowned vineyards in Eastern Europe. Visit the wine cellars of the seductively-named Valley of the Beautiful Women with the group to sample some of the town's famous 'Bull's Blood' red wine, which supposedly gave the Hungarian army supernatural strength during their battle against the Ottoman Empire. Among the Turkish soldiers it was rumoured that the enemy army drank blood diluted with wine, as the firm resistance they encountered couldn't be explained any other way. In your own time, perhaps explore Eger's 13th-century castle, which was the scene of the historic siege that thwarted the Ottoman Empire's advancement into Western Europe. Here you can explore the Gothic Palace, a gallery of fine Hungarian art, and tour underground passageways of archaeological finds. You may also like to check out the town's 19th-century cathedral, the northernmost medieval minaret in Europe for views of the city, or the Minorite church in Dobo Square.

Accommodation

Pension (1 night)

Included Activities

Eger Wine Tasting

Optional Activities

Meals Included

Travel by bus to the pleasant town of Debrecen today (approximately 3 hours). While here, you'll have time to explore Deri Square with its fountains, colourful buildings, museums, and golden Great Church. Continue on by train and private vehicle across the central plains into the Maramures region of Romania. This second part of the journey should take around six hours. Time in Romania is an hour ahead of Hungary, so don't forget to set your watch. Maramures is also a place that can feel like stepping back in time. The region may be modernising, but among the traditional wooden houses and churches, the traditional music and forests, you can still find parts of life fairly unchanged since medieval times. Upon arrival, settle into your room at the pension, which is run by a local family, and look forward to some hearty home-cooked fare.

Accommodation

Pension (1 night)

Meals Included

Breakfast

Dinner

Special Information

Romanian visas are not available at the border. Should you require one, please organise this before you commence the trip.

Today you’ll discover more about the region of Maramures ('mah-ra-moo-resh') and how it seems frozen in time. Rich in tradition and folklore, the music, costumes, festivals and ancient superstitions of one of the last peasant cultures in Europe continue to thrive here. Each village is distinctive in its colourful outfits and style of hat. Maramures is particularly famed for its wooden churches, many of which are World Heritage-listed. Set out on a guided group tour to explore the region. You’ll visit the unique Merry Cemetery in Sapanta, where the life stories of the deceased – the good and the bad of their lives – are displayed on colourful wooden crosses. There are poems and limericks, and little pictures illustrating how the person died, all single-handedly carved over 40 years by Stan Ioan Pătraş until 1977. The work has continued for the last 30 years by his apprentice. You’ll also see the village museum in Sighetu, an assembly of beautiful local wooden architecture, along with stopping by various other traditional villages.

Accommodation

Pension (1 night)

Included Activities

Maramures Tour with Local Guide

Sapanta Merry Cemetery

Barsana Monastery

Meals Included

Today is a long day of travel (approximately 9 hours) through pastoral fields and untouched Saxon towns to Sighisoara in Transylvania. While the name may conjure up images of haunted castles, gothic churches and vampires, this is only a small part of what makes Transylvania such an enchanting and exciting destination. Medieval Sighisoara is likely to seduce visitors more than any other place in Romania. Another World Heritage site, the town was first settled by the Romans but flourished under the Saxons from the 12th century. Take a walk around the old town, which coils up a narrow hill and is surrounded on all sides by fortified walls, and explore the 64 metre-high clock tower that dominates the citadel. The town is famed as the birthplace of Vlad Dracul III, better known as Vlad the Impaler, whose name was the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s iconic Count Dracula. Vlad III is revered as a folk hero by Romanians for driving off the invading Ottoman Turks, of which his impaled victims are said to have included as many as 100,000. Maybe have traditional Romanian fare at ‘Casa Dracula’ tonight.

Accommodation

Hotel (1 night)

Meals Included

While your next stop is less than an hour away, you'll feel like you've entered a different world. The small Transylvanian village of Viscri was originally inhabited by Saxons from the Luxembourg area, and the whole scene is picture-postcard rural. This idyllic village of red tiled roofs is a World Heritage site, virtually unchanged for 900 years. You’ll visit the town's fortified church (thought to be the oldest in Transylvania). You’ll also learn about the Sock Project, which supports the local Roma community. Time permitting, you may even like to go for a horse cart ride through the area, over pastures and through wondrous woods of oak and hornbeam. In the evening, indulge in a home-cooked dinner prepared by a local family, sampling fresh produce, homemade wines and schnapps. Tonight, stay in rustic houses that the locals rent out to visitors.

Accommodation

Homestay (1 night)

Included Activities

Viscri Fortified Church

Meals Included

Breakfast

Dinner

Special Information

Tonight's rooms are in different houses scattered across the village, and you'll be sharing facilities with other members of your group. Be prepared to spend a night in rustic conditions with a wood stove that needs tending.

Today continue to the 13th-century Saxon city of Brasov (approximately 2 hours). Also known by its German name of Kronstadt, the town is flanked by mountains and city walls was once a major medieval trading centre. Enjoy free time to explore, checking out the ornate churches, townhouses and squares surrounded by gingerbread-roofed merchants' houses. It's worth visiting the town's main attraction, the gothic (Biserica Neagra) Black Church, which took its name from its blackened appearance after a fire in 1689. Stroll along pedestrianized Strada Republicii, take a cable car up to Mt Tampa, or maybe explore the nearby Rasnov Fortress. The fortification is perched on a rocky hilltop above the town of Rasnov, and was constructed by Teutonic Knights in the 13th century as a place of refuge for the common people from Tartar invaders. Otherwise, you could head to Bran Castle, said to be the inspiration for the home of Bram Stoker's Dracula. Though not exactly super spooky, it is undeniably impressive, perched on a high cliff top and surrounded by pine trees. For those looking for a little nightlife action, Brasov has plenty of funky bars and restaurants to enjoy once darkness falls.

Accommodation

Hotel (1 night)

Optional Activities

The Black Church - RON10

Bran Castle - RON35

Rasnov Fortress Entrance Fee - RON15

Guided Walk - RON200

Cable Car to Mt Tampa - RON8

Meals Included

Head south to Bucharest today (approximately 3 hours). The city is increasingly known for its cosmopolitan vibe and energy, and while not the most beautiful or stylish city, there are some wonderful art nouveau buildings, ancient churches and monasteries, lush parkland, lakes and elegant boulevards. Romania's interesting capital also likes big things. It’s home to one of Europe's biggest squares, and its Palace of Parliament is the second largest building in the world – former dictator Nicolae Ceauşescu ordered the construction of the 12-storied Palace of Parliament, a building of staggering scale and opulence that includes 1,100 rooms and 4,500 chandeliers. You’ll take a guided walking tour around the city to help you get your bearings, then in free time you can choose to further explore some of the sights pointed out. You can check out the Museum of the Romanian Peasant. Another great way to see the city is by bicycle, perhaps exploring some of the city’s neighbourhoods for a glimpse into the daily lives of Bucharest’s residents. Maybe seek out some traditional home-cooked Romanian food with your fellow travellers on your last night together as a group.

Accommodation

Hotel (1 night)

Included Activities

Bucharest Guided Walking Tour

Optional Activities

Museum of the Romanian Peasant - RON8

Bucharest Bike Tour - EUR20

Village Museum - RON15

Palace of Parliament Tour - RON35

Meals Included

There are no activities planned for the final day and you are able to depart the accommodation at any time. For those who wish to stay longer in Bucharest please enquire about additional accommodation at the time of booking.

Optional Activities

Urban Adventures - Home Cooked Bucharest - EUR85

Urban Adventures - Bucharest Sites and Bites - EUR57

Urban Adventures - Outcast Bucharest - EUR52

Urban Adventures - Bohemian Bucharest: Markets & Mahallas - EUR60

Meals Included

Breakfast

Special Information

If it all ends to soon you can extend your trips by combining it with our 'Eastern Europe Express', taking in the highlights of Bulgaria, and ending in Sofia, or with the 'Moldova, Ukraine & Romania Explorer' which heads into the lesser known parts of Eastern Europe, ending in Ukraine's capital Kiev. If you have more time in Bucharest why not take one of our Urban Adventures day trips. Check it out on urbanadventures.com.

Inclusions

Meals

9 breakfasts,
3 dinners

Transport

Train,
Public bus,
Private minibus,
Metro,
Tram,
Taxi

Accommodation

Hotel (5 nights),
Pension (3 night),
Homestay (1 night)

Included activities

Eger Wine Tasting

Maramures Tour with Local Guide

Sapanta Merry Cemetery

Barsana Monastery

Viscri Fortified Church

Bucharest Guided Walking Tour

Meals

9 breakfasts,
3 dinners

Transport

Train,
Public bus,
Private minibus,
Metro,
Tram,
Taxi

Accommodation

Hotel (5 nights),
Pension (3 night),
Homestay (1 night)

Included activities

Eger Wine Tasting

Maramures Tour with Local Guide

Sapanta Merry Cemetery

Barsana Monastery

Viscri Fortified Church

Bucharest Guided Walking Tour

Dates & availability

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There are currently no scheduled departures on our Budapest to Bucharest trip. If you are interested in other trips in the region visit one of the links below.

Important notes

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT
A single supplement is bookable on this trip, subject to availability at the time of booking. Please note that due to the small properties we use in Europe there is only a limited amount of single supplements available per trip departure. If you would like to book a single supplement and enquire about availability please speak to your booking agent.

Essential trip information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.